Which vessel carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs?

The vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs is the pulmonary vein. Typically, the pulmonary veins transport oxygen-rich blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart. When the blood travels to the lungs, it is oxygenated there, having picked up oxygen and released carbon dioxide.

This question highlights a common misconception regarding blood circulation. The pulmonary artery, for instance, carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation, not the other way around. The inferior vena cava functions to carry deoxygenated blood from the lower body back to the heart, while the aorta distributes oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. In this context, understanding the roles of the different blood vessels is crucial for grasping the circulatory system's function.